When Good Advice Goes Bad.

I would bet money that the piece of advice most often given to writers is “Write every day.” I’ve probably given it myself a few thousand times.

But I see it given online with alarming frequency when it isn’t really the right advice for the circumstances.

Having trouble writing dialogue for your characters? Why, write every day.

Afraid of criticism from editors? Just write every day.

Huh? How is it relevant to these issues?

Of course it’s important to aspire to write every day. It’s one reason why I advocate keeping a journal—if you write nothing else that day, a journal entry will give you the sense of accomplishment you need to keep you going.

But what’s needed for most writing problems is strategy and a plan, not a clock.

Besides, it’s not always possible to write every day. Is your novel or short story going to advance if you can’t get to it until after 11 when the last of the chores is completed? Will it advance when you’re blocked and sit uselessly straining at your keyboard until drops of blood appear on your forehead?

So the next time you ask for advice in an online forum, skip the knee-jerk reactions that urge you just to spend more time. Seek out the advice that directly addresses your particular issue and offers you a real strategy.